Old Projects: Figurative Sculpture

During Design/Art school I learned to create figurative clay sculptures (2006-2011). This took place both in a first year fundamentals class, as well as during a figurative sculpture class.

“Sad Girl”

Sculptural Bust of a Classmate (Jieun)

Clay Model

Clay Model

“Sad Girl” Plaster Sculpture

“Sad Girl” Plaster Sculpture

Sculpture vs. Model

Process

Create a clay sculpture

Create a mold out silicone and a shell for the mold out of plaster

Cast a plaster head

Refine the plaster head, add colour and a protective layer

Clearly there is a lot more that can be said about the details of those steps. Maybe mold making will be a post for another day.

“David” and “Angry Man”

Sculptural Bust of a Model (David)

“Angry Man” Unfired Clay Bust

“David” and “Angry Man”

“David” Plaster Bust

“David” Plaster Bust

The same process was taken with this bust as with the earlier one, except that the initial clay sculpture was further refined/abstracted and fired. Creating two different sculptures.

Tip: Dental tools make great tools for working on plaster sculptures.

“For a Friend”

Cast Plaster Relief

“For a Friend” Front View

“For a Friend” Process Photo

“For a Friend” Angled View

Process

Use plaster bandages to create mold of chest

Create cast from mold

Make a box form, lay chest cast in the form, and cast the backing

Cast other objects, combine these objects

Refine sculpture

Attach pieces

Finish (paint, wax, or other)

Tip: Use Vaseline on body parts when casting yourself or others with plaster bandages. This will decrease adherence to your body (though some hairs will still stick). Also coat the plaster bandage forms with Vaseline before creating casts from them, or they will stick together.